Automatic phonograph



Aug. 27, 1946. 7 V J. A. DAR IN ETAL Auge 1945- J. A.- DARWIN ETAL 5 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 17, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 1946- J. AJDARWIN ET AL. v 2,406,355

AUTOMATI C PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 17, 1940 A 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 27, 1946. J. A. DARWIN ET AL 4 6,

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 17, 1940 14 Sheet-Sheet 4 A ug.27, 1946. J. A.DARWIN ET AL 6,3 5

. A AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH FiledDec. 17, 194 14 SheetS-Sheet 5 Aug.27, i946. A J'.-A. DARWIN.T AL 2,406,355

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 17,1940 14 Sheets-Sheet e 8 1946- J. A,DARWIN ETAL 2,406,355

Y AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH l Fled Dec. i7, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheei 9 Aug. 27, 1946. J. A. DARW|N ETAL 2,405,355

. AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 17, 1940 14 Sheejbs-Sheet 10 Aug. 27, 1946. J. A. DARWIN ETAL 2,406,355

' LAUTOMATIG PHONOGRAPH FledDec. 17, 1940- 14 Sheets-Sheec, 12

8 i946. r J. A. DARWIN ETAL 2,406,355

AUTOMATIC PHOOGRAPH Filed Deq. 17, 1940 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 Aug. 27,-1946. J. A. DARW1N ETAL 2,406,355

' ATOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 4 Filed Dec. 17, 1940 14 Shees-Shef; 14

Patenied Aug. 27, 1946 AUTOMATIC PHON GRAPH Joseph A. Darwin, East Orange, and Robert Robertson, Kearny; N. J.; said Robertson assignor to said Darwin Application December 17, 194D, Serial No. 370,530

48 Claims.

This invention relates to phonographs of the type designed to automatically handle the records of a group of records to beplayed.

An object of the invention is to provide means whereby the new machine, when set for what We shall term automatic operation as distinguished from automatic selective operation, will play both sides of each record of a group of records through to one end of the group and then will play back through the group, both sides of each record, and so on until stopped.

Another object is to provide means whereby in selective operation the machine will play either or both side-s of a selected reoord or of any number of selected records and when the selection or selections have been played will cause the ma chine to go into automatic operation and continue until shut off.

Another object is to provide means whereby when the machine is hut off either in automatic or selective operation it will normally automatically resume a constant starting relation to the group of records, ormay be stopped in a differ ent relation when desired.

Another object is to provide a machine which Will handle both of the at present standard record sizes intermixed in any manner, the machine automatically and instantaneously adapting itself to the size of the selected record.

Another object is to provide means afiording an accelerated record changing action and, in particular, to provide means for instantaneously changing from one side of a record to the other without the necessity of returning the record to storage between the playing of its two sides.

Another object is to provide a machine wherein the record group may contain any desired number of records.

With the above and other objects in view, we

shall describe their manner of attainment with reference to a practical and illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an is-ometric view of the new apparatus.

Figure 2 is an isometric view of a record magazine which appears also in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken transversely of the magazine at the lower part thereof.

Figure 4 is a section on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of drive gearing and controls at the left front side of the machine, these mechanisms being concealed in a housing in Figure 1.

, 2 7 Figure 6 is a front elevation of the mechanism of Figure 5.

Figure 7 i a section substantially on line -'!l of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a section substantially on line 8-8 of Figure v5.

Figure 8a shows a detail in elevation.

Figure 9 is a section substantially on line 99 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a section substantially on line IDI.0 of Figure 6.

Figure '11 is a section substantially on line l ll I of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a plan view of record and pick-up.

handling'and controlling mechanism, this mechanism for the most part being concealed in a housing in Figure 1.

Figure 13 is a front elevation of the mechanism of Figure 12.

Figure 13a is a fragmentary elevation, in different relation, of details appearing in Figure 13.

Figure 14 is a section on line l4-l4 of Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a section on line |5 I5 of Figure 12.

Figure 16 is a section on line l6-lfi of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a section on line I1-ll of Figure 12.

Figure 18is a fragmentary plan view of details appearing in Figure 17'.

Figure 19is a section on line ISI'9 of Figure 17.

Figure 20 i a detached view in plan of an operating shaftappearing in Figure 12.

Figure 21 is a section on line 2l-2l of Fig ure 13.

Figure 22, i a section, with parts omitted, on line 2222 of Figure 13.

Figure 23 is a detached plan view of a cam shaft appearing in Figures 12 and 1 3.

Figure24i an elevation of record holding and driving mechanism also appearing in Figure 1.

Figure 25 is an elevation of pick-up devices which appear also in Figure 1. 4

r Figure 26 is a plan view of selecting mechanism which appears somewhat to the right and at the front in Figure 1.

Figure 27 is a section substantially on line 21-21 of Figure 26.

Figure 28 is a plan view of certain stop mechanism.

Figure 29 is a view like that of Figure 28 shoW ing the part in different relation, and

Figure 30 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, reference numeral designates a base plate on the rear portion of which is supported a record magazine generally designated by the reference numeral 3 l. Reference numeral 32 designates a housing for the main drive gearing and reference numeral 33 designates a housing for the record playing means, this housing being preferably made in front and rear portions and slotted for assembly over the various shafts as indicated. In the em bodiment. of the inventon here disclosed, the record magazine is stationary and the record play ing means are mounted for movement along the magazine. ment, some aspects of the invention are not necessarily limited th ereto but are equallyapplicable in a situation wherein, for example, the magazine is the traveling element. been made to show an enclosing cabinet, which,

7 of course, may be of any suitable design.

\ Record magazine The record magazine, as here shown, includes any desired number of generally L-shaped plates 3'4 whose lower edges rest on parallel bars 35 and shaped plates being at the bottom and projectingforwardly. The bottom edges of the plates are provided with recesses 38 and 39. which receive 'parallel horizontal rods 40 and 41 whose ends are supported in pedestals as at 42 and 43, Figure 2. The lower ends of the recesses are closed by short cylindrical pieces 44 which are longitudinally kerfed and clipped onto the plate margins. Spacer means for the plates are here provided in the form of blocks 45 and 46 kerfed and elipped to the top and lower front margins of the plates. Also, the opposed faces are preferably pro lided With pads of soft material as indicated by the reference numeral 41, Figure 2.

Records 48 and 49 are supported in the compartments defined by the plates on longitudinal rubber insets 50 and 5| of bars 35 and 36. Records 48 are assumed to be of ten inchsize and records 49 of twelve inch size, and the relation of parts is such that a substantial segment of either size of record projects into the angie of the Ls when the records are in the magazine, being thus accessible for loading and unloading. The nor- While this is a preferred arrange-J No attempt has mal condition of the magazine is that shown in Figure 2 wherein the plates are in vertical position, being so maintained by two bell crankfle- The plate The latter are arranged about the record oted on a pedestal 53 and has an upwardly extendirig arm provided at its extremity with rollers 54 which engage the end plate. A generally horizontally extending arm of lever 52 is engagediby an arm 55 fixed on a rock shaft 56 suitably journaled on the base plate in parallel relation to the bars 35 and 36. Ari arm 51, exactly like arm'55 and fixed to shaft 55, similarly engages the other bell crank lever like 52.

and 53 designate forwardly eXtending arms fixed to the rock shaft. With these arms in the positionshown in Figure 2, the bell crank Ievers maintain the plates 34 in verticalposition with the spacers 45and 46 in contact. If the shaft 55 is I rocked under the control of arms 58 and 59 so or magazine is opened the selected record is maintained in upright osition by means which Will be hereinafter described. v

Thmagazine can be loaded or unloaded either from the front or from the rear, although front loading will ordinarily be preferred.

M in drive mechanzsm Suitably journaled on main brackets 60 and sl, Figures 1 and 5,- is a shaft 62 parallel to the bars 35 and 36, the shaft 82 having a squared portion between the brackets; The left hand end of shaft 62 is carried out through a bearing 64which is supported from a horizontal part l 02 projecting to the left of bracket 60, Figure 5. The extremity of shaft 62 may be squared as shown so that a crank can be applied for manual adjustment. Just outside of bracket 60, shaft 62 has fixed thereon a worm wheel 66 which is engaged by a worm 61, Figure 5, fixed on suitably journaled horizontal shaft 68, Figure 6, the rear end of the latter being fiexibly coupled through a shaft 69 with the armature shaft of a spring supported motor ID, Figure l. shaft 62 is continuously driven from the motor at a predetermined speed throughout the operation of the machine. All drives are conveniently taken from this shaft.

Fixed on shaft 62 outwardly of the worm wheel 66 is a worm li which engages a worm wheel 12 fixed on one end of a suitably journaled horizontal shaft '13, the other or forward end of the shaft 73 having fixed thereon a worm 14 which engages a worm wheel 15 running free on the end of a shaft 16 journaled in the brackets 60 and Si in parallel relation to shaft 62 and in the same horizontal plane as the latter. Between the brackets shaft 16 has a keyway 16'.

Worm wheel 15 has an integral hub H provided with a plurality of axially extending notches 78. Fixed on shaft 16 between the hub TI and bracket se is a disc 79 which has eccentrically pivoted thereon a dog 80 on a pin 8|, Figure 8, the dog having a nose 82 engageable in any one of the notches 18 so as to cause the disc and therewith shaft 16 to be driven from the worm wheel 15. The dog is pulled to clutch'- ing position by a tension spring 83. The tail 84 of the dog has fixedthereon by one end a flat spring 85, the free part of the spring bein normally spaced somewhat from the underlying surface of the tail. r

Slidable in block 85 and 87 fixed to the outside of bracket Si] are plungers 88 and 89 diametrically opposite each other and parallel with shaft 6, the paths of the plungers being.just outside the periphery of disc 79. Levers 99 and 9l pivoted on a horizontalpin 92 supported on the inner face of bracket 68 have their upper Reference numerals 58 ends pivoted to the plungers 88 and 89 and their lower ends to the core 93 of a solenod 94 mounted on the base plate 39. A'tension spring 95 tends to swing the arms and 9| in a counter-clockwise direction, Figure 6, whereby to maintain the plungers 88 and 89 in projected position wherein their ends are in the path of the tail of dog 89. In Figure 8 the tailhas struck plunger 89 and the dog has been swung to withdraw nose 82. When the tail 84 approaches either one of the plungers the flat spring 85 is first of all pressed against the tail and withdrawal of the nose 82 follows, the withdrawal movement being somewhat augmented as sprin 85 returns to its spaced relation. Any possibility of clicking of the clutch when inoperative is thus prevented.

In operation, when solenoid 94 is energized the plungers are retracted, thus releasing the dog so tha-t it can engage in a groove 18- as one comes around. The retraetion of the plungers is only momentary and in order to assure release of the dog a plate 95 is pivoted on pin 81 between the dog and the disc and is pulled in the same direction as the dog by a tension spring 81. The plate 961 has aqtail portion 98 which springs in front of the plunger upon retraction of the latter and prevents the plunger from getting in front of the tail 84. The leading end of plate 96 abuts hub IT to limit its swinging movement. Plate 96 is, of course, returned against spring 9'! when the tail 84 again approaches a projected plunger. It. will be evident that due to the provision of the two plungers at diametrically opposite points a. half revolution will be imparteo; to shaf.t 16 each time the clutch is enga ed.

Fixed: on shaft 62 outwardly of Worm H is a worm wheel 99 which engage a warm Hi9 on a shaft USM journaled in a bearing block secured beneath the horizontal frame member [(32, the forward end of this shaft having fixed thereon a collar ll3, Figure 7, provided with an axially extending peripheral notch M34. A disc iil5' free on the forward extremity of, shaft Mi! has eccentrically pivote'd thereon, on a screw I,EJ5, a dog H3! in the form of a bell crank lever, of which one arm is provided with a nose IGB-adapted to be engaged in notch |04- due to the action of a tension spring l99. The other arm H of the bell crank lever normally extends across a peripheral notch lll of disc I.l5., the leading edge I.l2 of the notch lll. being inclined or fiared outwardly and rearwardly.

Fixed on the forward side of disc lil5 is a. bevel pinion l 13 which is in constant engagement with b.evelpinions IM. and H5 freely rotatable On a shaft l 16 parallel to shafts 5.2 and 16, shaft H6 being joumaled in bearings on brackets (iii and 6| and at its lefthand: end in pedestal H1 rising from plate 65. Splined on shaft H6 between pinions IM and. I |5 is a clutch Collar Il8 having lugs cooperable with;lugs on the two pinions so that by shifting the collar, shaft INS can be driven in either direction and at the same speed as shaft Jill. Collar l I8. has a peripheral groove engaged by a forked. shipper ll.9 fixed on a rod l2l'l which is slidably supported in a, bearing at one end of a fixed arm l2l and in notches in the top edges of brackets 6! and (il, Figures 1 and 5.

Journaled in a bearing adjacent the front of bracket 60 is a shaft 122 in parallel relation to shaft 62. Fixed on the outer end of shaft I22 is an arm 23 to whose upper extremity is pivoted a link l2:i whose rear portion is laterally guided in a bracket [25- of inverted U-shape on the top of frame member ID2. The rear portion of link 124 is down-turned and is pivoted by means of aascrew i25, Figure 5, to the rear end of a plunger I'2 slidable in parallelism with shaft HM in a block fixed beneath member 02. The plungef L2! is disposed so that its forward end can ride on the rear margin of disc I.5 so as to. be struck by the extremity of arm llto release dog l 0,1; whereb.y to withdrawthe nose, l.ll8;fromthe notch I:IML The link 1.243, and therew'rth plunger l:2:1:, is pulled forwardly by a, tension spring l:28, Fig: ure 5. After nose li08 has been disengaged, the forward end of plunger ['21, entering notch l:l.l, exerts a, cam action on the notch wall l i2: so as to rotate. disc T05 through a further smallangle, the arm H:ll*being thus further depressed so that nose I:88 is slightly further retracted and any possibility of clicking thus prevented. -When plunger;l2s is. retracted and the: do 1:91 conse quently engaged with the constahtl5z rotating coltlar N13, shaft H6: will be rotated through:one complete revolution and: willthen be arrested by the plunger 12'! again engaging arm H0 and entering notch [ll l, as above described. y

To nslire against: immediate return of: the plungr into notch ll l' after its retraction, there is provided a bell crank lever 29 pivoted at- I3il on a vertical axis on top of frame portion zloz. Lever l29 is pulled in a counter clockwise di rec tion by a tension spring l 3l. On arm I32 of the lever normaily bears against the down'turned portion of link [24, as shown in Figure 5, this arm being provided with a, shoulder l33 which swings in front of the said: downwardly projecting portion when the link is moved rearwardly, thereby holding the link and the plunger against forward movement. This movement of the bell crank lever brings its tail portion i34 intothe path of the head of screw [S08 at the rear ot disc I'I15 and when the disc has been driven sufliciently far so that notch lll. is well clear of the forward end of the.plunger, the screw head stri kes tail. l:3::31 and knocks ofi= the latch from link 24 so that the end of the plunger is now horno against the rear margin. of the disc by the-action of spring l2'8, ready to strike the arm H0 of pawl IO! with the de-clutchng effect heretofore de scribed. r 7

Pivoted to the upperportion of arm I23'through a spacing collar [35: is a drag link whose forward end extends over shaft 62 between bracket. 61): and worm wheel 66, Figures 5 and 9 the forward extremity of the link. being guided in a vertical slot in a. bracket l31. At the forward end of the link its 'bottom p-ortionis cut spring l44 which underlies the drag link [36.

The drag link has fixed on its inner side a lug which is adapted to strike arm Mi when the link moves rearwardly. Arm I40 bears frictionally against a flat spring 40' on bracket 60. Disc 19 has a hub portion adjacent bracket 80 in which is fixed a radially extending pin MS; Figure 6, which is adapted to strike portion 142 of. iever I 40 to return the lever.

The drag link carries a pawl Mi having a nose portion, which in the relation of parts shown in Figure 8, is engaged ina peripheratrecess 48: of disc 19. Th pawl can swing onlyin a counter-clockwis direction from its illustrated position.

Mounted on a block of insulation 1!49, Figures Sand 9,- on the frame portion I'02 is a switch l50 which has upper and lower spring arms l5l; and l52 nrma1lyspaced apart.- Underlyirrg. the

arm l52 is a fiuther spring arm 153 whose free" end I54 is inclined forwardly and downwardly, 7

this end lying in the path of reciprocation of a pin [55, on link 24. When the link,moves rearwardly, pin 155 strikes the top of portion [54 so that the latter is moved downwardly. However, when the link moves forwardly the pin l55 engagesrunder portion l54 thereby bending arm 153 upwardly so that arm l52 is engaged ,with arm ll to close the switch. This cannot.occur, however, until plunger [21 moves into notch lll to open the clutch. In Figure 30, switch 150 isshown disposed in a conductor I,56 which leads to a contact 56a of a switch 211, this contact being in connection with a switchrcontact I56b when a bridge piece:2l8 of the switchzis in the full line position ofFigure 30. Contact I56b is in connection with one end of the windingof solenoid 9,4, the other end of the winding being in connection with a conductor l51.

With the parts in initialposition, both the one revolution clutch and the one-half revolution clutch are open and the nose of pawl M1 is in recess 148 of disc 19.; This means that the drag link is in the dotted line position. shown in Figure 9, so that the shoulder 138 is in the circle of movementof pin l39 of worm wheel 66. If

r 1 the motor 10 is now started, worm wheel 66 will 7 be driven in a counter-clockwise direction as seen from the left, Figures 5 and 6, and pin 66 will engagement with the underside of the drag link,

the lever being retained in this relation by its frictional engagement with the spring M0, this being sufiicieht to hold the,lever against the reaction of spring l44. As pin 139 now leaves shoulder 38, the drag. link is swung upwardly, due to the action of spring M4, to bring the 7 shoulder I38 out of the path of pin 39. Also,

at the beginning of the rearward movement of thedrag link, pawl l4'l swings out of notch 48.

Link l24 has, of course, moved with the drag link and pin 155 has passed over portion I54 of arm l53, this being without any effect, as heretofore explained. Plunger 121 is withdrawn from notch l H and disc ID5 and pinion el l3 are im-- mediately driven. If clutch collar H8 isin the position shown in Figure 5," the shaft IIS will be driven in a ,counter-clockwise direction asseen from the left, Figures 5 and 6, through one rotation., If the collar is in engagement' with the pinion H5, shaft ll6 will be driven,through one rotation in a clockwise direction. 7

As notch lll of disc 05 comes in front of plunger 121, return oflink 124 is permitted, andas pin 55. now passes beneath portion l54of arm l53, switch [50 is closed, thereby energizing solenoid 54 so that plungers 38 and 89 are retracted. Plunger 89, Figure 8, thus releases dog 80 so that disc 19 is driven a half revolution in a counter-clockwise direction, Figure 8, that is,

until the tail of dog 80 strikes plungr 88. The

The playing of each record, as will hereinafter appear, involve's a full rotation of disc l9jand shaft'l6. Due to re-energization of solen0id 94 during the cycle by ,manswhch will be later described, plungers 88 and 89 are again retracted and disc 79 is returned to the position of Figure 8. During r this second half-revolution, pin 146 strikes arm M2 of lever so thatthe latter is swung in aclockwise direction thereby permit ting the drag link to drop. However, the nose of pawl |4I rides on a full peripheralportion of disc 19 and thelink is maintained in such an elevated position that its shoulder I38 is out; of thepath of travel of pin [29. When the 'second half-revolution is completed the nose of the pawl drops into recess M8 and the described cycle gan be repeated;

Magazine control Arms 53 and 59 are rovided at their forward 7 extremities with circumferentially ,grooved rollers and l6l, Figures 5,and 6, these 'rollers being disposed in the planes ofcam fingers l62 and [63 7 fixed on shaft 16. 'Ihese fingers, as seenby reference to cam finger [52, Figure 9, have straight trailing edgs fairly close to the periphery of shaft '15, the leading ends of the fingers being tapered. In the restposition of the mahinethe fingers extend substantially straight downwardly, as shown in Figure 9 so that the arms 58 and 59 are depressed and the magazine consequently closed. Shortly after drive of shaft 76 starts, the ends of the fingers pass away from the rollers and arms 58 and 59 are snapped upwardly by tension springs as at l64, Figure 9, so that the bell crank levers as at 52 are free to swing away from the ends of the magazine and the latter may now open to expose a selected record. During the latter part of the second revolution of the half revolution clutch which controls the drive of shaft 16, the cam fingers I62 and I63 engage rollers [60 and [6| and arms 58 and 59 are returned to the position of Figure 9, closing the magazine.

Record selectzng and playing mechanzsm of wall l6'l. The side walls hav securedthereto the depending legs of an inverted U-*member hav ing a horizontal top porton I'I0 and the 1egs of this member are pierced at opposite points and slidably receive rod [20. V Splined on shaft 16 substantially midway between the side walls is a main cam I'll which has an end surface l12 provided with a slight depression l'l3, the end surface being followedby a curved side surface I'M falling to a depression 115 from which rises a terminal curved surface H6. The other end and the otherside of the,cam have the same contour as just described. Thestarting position of the cam isshown in Figure 14.

As shown in the last mentioned figure, a roller I'll carried at the extremity* of an extension l'l8 is engaged in the depression [13, extension 118 being integral with an arm l19 which is svvingable ona sleeve [80 surrounding shaft ll6 between side walls I66 and 161, Figure 17. The end of sleeve l80 adjacent wall [66 is fixed ina collar l8l which in turn is screwed to thsde Wall. A

- '9 brace l82 fixed to arm end of sleeve l80 adjacent wall 16:1. The arm and brace are held against displacement to the left by stop :collars l83 and [84, displacement to the right being prevented by the engagementof the brace with wall :i 51 At the left hand side of its free end, arm I'l9 Figure 24, supports -a rotary disc or turntable 35 on ahorizontal shaft perpendicular to the plane of swingof the arm, the disc having the usualiacing of soft material. In fixed connection with the disc shafton the other side of arm H9, is -a grooved pulley l86 connected by a belt HJ! witha grooved pulleyl88 formed at one end of abarrel which at its-other end has a sprocket l89, the barrel being rotata-ble on sleeve [80.

Pivoted to arm H9 at the left side thereof through top and wbottom plates l90 and l 90, Figures 18 and 19, is an arm l9l which has a forked' end clearin sleeve-180.. A compression spring 192 urges th arms apart. theswinging range of arm ISI away from arm l-l9 being limited by a stop 193 in the end of a plate ISA fixed to the top of arm I9l and resting on topo-f arm H9 to take the weight of arm 191 At the right hand side of its free end,arin I3I, Figures l and 24, rotatably supports a disc or turntable 195 which H9-hasa bearing on the is exactly-like disc l85 except that it is equip ed with a tapered centering pin [96. lhe cent ring pin is spring-projected and is readily depressible, the mounting being, for example, like that shown in the patentto Schwartz, 1,963,214 of June 19, 1934:. The discs are des gnedto clamp a record, centered by pin [95, between them, and when in clamping relation ar co-axial.

An extension [9! is fixed to the lower end of arm IS! and is apertured te freely pass sleeve l8ll. At its eXt-remity the eXtensienhas threaded therethrough a screw 588, Figure 13 and 14.. whose end is adapted to bear against the left hand face of upright plate 135 pivoted on the bottom wall M38 ona horizontal axis in a plane perpendicularto the axi of shaft l5,:;Referring also to Figure 22 plate 599 has threacied there: through a screw EGO whose end constitutes a follower for the contours of a face cam 231 which is fixed in slightly spaced relation to the cam H at the left thereof. The face of cam 2ll' com prises raised and lowered portions 26 2 and 233 separated by a rise 2:34' and a drop 255 which are suitably inclined. The two cams are positioned by spacer sleeves 76a and Eb on shaft 16 between the cams and walls E66 and 51, sleeve 'F5b being splined on the shaft.

A flanged collar 295 is rctatable on a reduced portion of the hub 2B! of a sprocket 2GB, Figure 15, the hub being rotatable on shaft 52 between fixed planes and having fixed to its extremity the hub of a bevel pinion 289. Secured to the fiangeof collar 255 is a record positioning finger 2l9 consisting of laminations of spring strip metal, the finger being held ina constant plane by the shoulder of hub 2E3i' and by pinion 2i39 and normally projecting upwardly as indicated in Figure 14. The finger 2!i3 comprise two spring strips 2H and 2l2 which extend in contact with each other and are reinforced at their base portions by members 253 and 2!4, the split between strips 25 l and 2l2 being in a plane parallel to the face of disc I'85 and spaced therefrom a distance equal to half the th-icknes of a record. The free ends of strips 2 l and 2 t2 are ou'twarclly fiared as are also the adjacent portions of their longitudina1 margins. At an intemrediate portion of strips '2Il and 2i2 a, v -s-haped member 2l5 of spring strip material is secured to the lower or rear margins thereof and constitutes a wedge having pring wings.

Fixed on the collar of sleeve 2115 is a radially projecting finger 2I6 to the end of which is piv Rearoted one end of a link 72H, Figure l4. Wardly the top of link 25! is recessed to provide a forwardly faced square shoulder 2i3 and a re duced tail porton 2l9. Rearwandly of shoulder 2|8 a block 22h is swivelled on link 21? and is pro Vided with a. boreslidably receiving one end of a link 22l whose otherehd is pivot ed at 22-2 on a bracket 223 secured on wall Hi8. At its intermediate portion link 222i i has an upwardly and forwardlyinclined top edge which terminate in a flat edge 224 beyond which 's a recess 2-25.

Links 2|! and 225 constitute a toggle tending to be collapsed upwardly by a tension spring 2:25. In the relation of parts shown in Figure '14, a rol1er221 on extension il8 and coaxial with roller I'll, is in front ofthe shoulder 25h and due:to its engagement thereby and bythe tail 2 !s}; prevents telescoping and upward' Collapse" .ofthe t0gg1e. Cam lll is provided with a pair of axially extendn-g pin 228 and 229 adapted to en gage edgaporticn 224i of link -22-l upon rotation of the cam. On the hub of the cam is a further pin 2353 which projects radially and is lkewise adapted to strike edge 2.240f link 2l.' Pin228 in the rest relation of the parts is en portion 224 of link 22: just to the rear of the recess 225.

If the half revolution clutch through which shaft 15-is driven is now thrown in, cam HH, Fig ure 14, will be driven in clock-wire direction, there being a slot in the forward portion of the bottom wall I68 to pass the cam. A the cam starts to rotate the depression H3 moves away from roller I'll, butwhile the roller is still "on the end edge H2, pin 228 bearing on edg Dortion 224., flattens the toggle to such an extent that shoulder 2 Ii) passes below roller 223 and thelinks 2| and 22l are abruptly telescoped by spring 226 so that finger 2m is rapidlyswung in a clcckwise direction*bringing the spring wedge 245 betweenthe top portions of a pair of wings 3'5 relative to which the carriage is properly positioned, the fiarecl forward extremity -of the finger being forced apart by the record which is between the wings and gripping the same to anextent de- .pencling on the diameter of the record. It will be understoodthat when the levers as at 52 are now released in the manner hereinbefore de: scrihed, the magazine will part or open away from the finger in both directions due to the expanding action of the wedge, the record being main tained in vertical position by the. finger as indicated in dottecl lines in Figure 1. With the toggle in telescoped condition the extremity of tail 219 of link 2 1 is below shaft 15. 7

;As the cam continues to rotate, portion !4 thereof come against roller I'll, permitting arms l'l9 and l 9| to swing downwardly by gravity from their normally upwardly and-rearwardly extending position, Figure 14, into straddling relation With the record. As they lo wer the rise 24 of cam 255 will engage follower 268 of plate l99 and the plate will be swung to the left, Figure 13, bearing against screw l9*3- on extension 197 se that arm I'9I is swung toward arm H9 against v the action of spring 92. The discs |8 5 and ii vates the arm and the record, still in vertical position, to the playing position shown in Figure 1 and cam I'll is at this time exactly reversed from the position shown in Figure 14. As. the record comes into playing position, arm l9l engages a roller *l9l ona rigid bracket extending rearwardly from carriage portion Il'i forcing the arm toward arm H9 so that the record is tightly gripped between-discs 185 andl9 5.

In the case of a twelve ihch'record the record openingwill be an inch above the position of the opening in the case of a ten inch record The point of the centering pin travels in an aro which 'intersects the position of either openingand con- 229 comes into engagement with edge portion* 224 of link 221 so that the toggle is still maintained relatively flattened, This condition is'substantially maintained until pin 230 comes against the extremity of tail portion 2|9 of link 211 and the toggle is still maintained suificiently flatte'nedjso that as roller 221 swings rearwardly during the elevation of the record supporting arms, it will not engage shoulder 2l8 and consequently the record positioning finger 2I0 will remain in its lowe1ed position. When the record has been played, shaft 16 undergoes another half revolution during which the record arm is permitted to swing rearwardly to replace the record which will be engaged y e pstionng fi ger and retained in upright position as arrn l9l is swung away from arm 119 to release the record due to the action of spring carriage moves to brngthe playing mechanism into proper relationt the last record space at the top of link-21! tothe right ofshoulder 2I8." As extension H8 begins to swing upwardly, pin

l92 as now permitted by Cam 20l whose lowered portion 203 is now in front of follwer 200. Dur

ing this time, the extremity of tail 2I9 of link 2|! has been restrained from extreme upward movement through contact with the hub of cam I'll andas the record arms are now Swung up wardly, roller 221 engages shoulder 2l8 thereby pr0jecting link 211 forwardly sd'that the positioningfinger 2lllis returned to its generally upright position and all the parts are again as in Figure 14. y

The engagement of roller l'l1 in the cam recesses as at 113 serves to hold shaft 16 against accidental rotation when the half revolution clutch is disengaged.

It has been above described now, with the carriage properly positioned relative to the magazine and the machine in operation, the magazine will be opened and a record will be elevated, played and returned. Assuming clutch member H8 to be.engaged with pinion ll4, at the end of the playingcycle the drag 1ink 135 will be again pulled forward so that the one revolution clutch is closed and pinion IM and member H8 are driven through one revolution. The pitch of the threads of shaft H6 is such that its' consequent rotation will drive the carriage 165 one record space and the playing cycle Will be repeated, the

carriage being automatically driven one step to the right at the completion of ea0h cycle.f Fixed on rod I20-adjacent its right hand end is a stop the right of the magazine, Spring 266 is abutted by the right hand leg of the inverted Umeinber, this being'permitted byan 'enlarged opening in the right hand wallof casing 33. As the carriage reaches its extreme right hand playing position the spring convolutions come together and sufficient positive movement to the right is given to rod l20 so that the engagement of clutch mem ber'll8 with pinion H4 is loosened and the expanding action of thespfing then moves the rod and therewith member H8 so that the latter is brought into operative relation relative to pinion l l5, the one revolution clutch opening at thesame time. When the playing cycle has now been com pleted the immediate engagement ofthe lugs of pinion ll5 with those of member H8; as the one able on rod 20. The block"hasa flat top surface r on which is swingable a stop plate 269 pivoted on screw 261. The plate is normally held in the position shown inl igure 5 by a tension spring 2'l0 anchored at its ends to the block and plate respectively and holding the plate against a stop 211 on the block, the plate prjecting to the right of the block a distance equal to one step of the carriage I65. A spiral spring 212 surrounds rod between the left hand end of block 268 and a collar 213 Which is fixed on the rod. With the spring fully expanded, the lower extremity of screw 261 is against an end wall of the keyway I20'. As the carriage approaches its left hand limit position a finger 214 fixed on the left hand leg of the ihverted U -member above rod l2 engag'es the end of plate 269, spring 212 is compressed and as the left hand limit position of the carriageis reached thespring expands to shift member H8 into engagement with pinion H4. Consequently, when the extreme left hand record has been played drive through the one revolution clutch will cause the carriage to be moved one Space to the right.

It will thus be seen that as long as the motor is running the carriage will be stepped back and forth in front of the magazine and the records will be successively played from endto end of the group. v

Referring to Figure 30, reference numerals 215 and 215 designate leads from a suitable electrical source, lead 215 running to one side of motor 10 and lead 216 running to a contact 2Tla of switch 211. In the full line position of the bridge piece 218, contact 2'I'la is in connection with a contact 21117 of the switch and this latter Contact is in connection through a conductor 219, in which is interposed a normally closed manually operable switch 280, with the other side of the motor.

The bridge piece 218 in the full line position establishes entirely independent connections between contacts 2'Ha and 2'l'lb, on the one hand, and between contacts [55a and l56b, on the other hand, as will be understood. When the bridge piece is moved to the dotted line position of Figure 30, the connection between wires [56 and l56c is broken and a connection is established betweehcontact 211d and a, further contact 2'l'lc of the Switch. A conductor 281 inconnectionwith contact 2'l1c under these cir'cumstances establishes a connection to the said other to be 

